Bebop Spoken There

Jools Holland (on his 2026 spring/summer tour): ''With the mighty [R&B] Orchestra, our wonderful boogie woogie singers, and the brilliant Joe Webb opening the shows [including Darlington Hippodrome, June 19], we're in for some very special evenings of music.'' The Northern Echo February 5, 2026

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

18263 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 117 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Feb. 6), 17

From This Moment On ...

February

Sat 07: The Big Easy @ St Augustine’s Parish Centre, Darlington. 12:30pm. £10.00. Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club.
Sat 07: Tees Bay Swing Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 1:30-3:30pm. Free. Open rehearsal.
Sat 07: Play Jazz! workshop @ The Globe, Newcastle. 1:30pm. £27.50. Tutor: Steve Glendinning. St Thomas & Bésame Mucho. Enrol at: learning@jazz.coop.
Sat 07: Side Cafe Oᴙkestar @ Café Under the Spire, Gateshead. 6:30pm. Table reservations: 0191 477 3970.
Sat 07: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Red Lion, Earsdon. 8:00pm. £3.00.

Sun 08: Swing Tyne @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12 noon (doors). Donations. Swing dance taster class (12:30pm) + Hot Club de Heaton (live performance). Non dancers welcome.
Sun 08: Am Jam @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 08: Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 09: Mark Williams Trio @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth. 1:00pm.
Mon 09: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 10: Jazz Jam Sandwich @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 11: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Jam Session @ The Tannery, Hexham. 7:00pm. Free.
Wed 11: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington.. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 11: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.

Thu 12: Indigo Jazz Voices @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:45pm. £5.00.

Fri 13: Noel Dennis Quartet @ Bishop Auckland Methodist Church. 1:00pm . £9.00. Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Rick Laughlin (piano); Mick Shoulder (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums).
Fri 13: Joe Steels @ Jesmond Library, Newcastle. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 13: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 13: Castillo Nuevo Trio @ Hotel Gotham, Newcastle. 5:30pm. Free.
Fri 13: Lindsay Hannon: Tom Waits for No Man @ Arc, Stockton. 8:00pm.
Fri 13: Tom Remon & John Moriarty @ The Ship Isis, Silksworth Row, Sunderland SR1 3QJ. 7:00pm. £10.00 + £1.00 bf.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Wednesday, April 02, 2014

CD Review: Johanna Graham Quartet - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight.

Johanna Graham (voice); Martin Bowie (gtr); Tim Greenhalgh (bs); Damian Rodd (dms) + Rory Simmons (tpt).
(Review by Lance)
I usually farm out vocal CDs to my team of vocal experts - I mean, how many more times do I want to hear Summertime? However, occasionally I pull rank and say "This is mine!"
Which is what I've done with this one even though it does contain the dreaded Summertime!
This is Ms Graham's début album and already I'm short-listing it.
Given the current attention being paid to the return of Kate Bush it is perhaps fitting that the album opens with The Man with the Child in his Eyes. Lightly swinging, trumpet and guitar solos, immaculate bass and drums and a vocal that offers a credible alternative to the Kate Bush version.
Funny, a Nat King Cole hit from the 1950s, is an emotive tale of lost love. Johanna fighting her feelings and almost having us (and herself) believing it. Masterful storytelling.
Lennon and McCartney released I Will on the legendary White Album and Graham brings her own take to the table - delicious and enhanced by Simmons' tightly muted trumpet.
Too Much, an original by Graham and Martin Bowie, has echoes of bygone divas such as Ella, Anita, Shirley Horn and present days wonders such as Diana Krall and Claire Martin. Fine open horn on this one and nice West Coast (USA) guitar sound. I'm Through With Love - if I had to choose just one tune from the album this would be it! Fortunately, I don't have to make that very difficult choice particularly as the next track is James Taylor's Don't Let me be Lonely Tonight.
People are Strange is a reminder of the quality of music laid down by The Doors and once again our girl proves she can do covers that don't sound like covers. The second original by Graham and Bowie, Empty Serenade, is a sorrowful, reflective piece made all the more melancholic by Greenhalgh's bass. Is this just a song or is she really pouring her heart out ? Either way she gets the message across.
More sadness - When Sunny Gets Blue - but with hope for the future...
No hope for the future in Stormy Weather but Johanna Graham's performance suggests a rosy future for her! The scatting rounds off an excellent disc.
And now it's time to hold up my hand and say that the bonus track - Summertime - is the least worst version of that overworked tune!
Highly recommended.   
Lance.
The CD: Johanna Graham Quartet - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (Label - 33 Records) is being launched at Pizza Express, Dean St., Soho, London on May 25.
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